From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi
Belagavi, Nov14: In a bid to mollify the employees belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for giving reservation in promotions, the State Government on Tuesday tabled the Karnataka Extension of Consequential Seniority to Government Servants Promoted on the basis of Reservation (to the posts in the civil services of the State) Bill, 2017.
Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra tabled the Bill in the Legislative Assembly which aimed at determination of seniority of the government servants promoted on the basis of reservation to the posts in the civil services of the State.
The State has being providing reservation in promotions for SC/STs employees since 1978 to provide 15% for SCs and 3% for STs.
However, the Supreme Court in the B K Pavithra and others vs Union of India and others civil appeal filed in 2011, struck down reservation in promotions for SC/ST employees.
It may be recalled that the SC/ST Government employees had staged a strike and protest against the denial of the promotions and had demanded that the State Government bring a law to overcome the points raised in the Supreme Court order.
Implementation of the reservation quota in promotions for SC/STs is seen as a big plus for the ruling Congress party in the forthcoming assembly polls.
In compliance with the Supreme Court order, the State Government had conducted a study on the backwardness of SCs and STs, inadequacy of their representation in the state civil services and the effect of reservation in promotion on the state administration.
Additional Chief Secretary Ratna Prabha with the assistance of other officers collated the data and made a detailed report which was submitted to the government.
The State government accepted the report and decided to provide consequential seniority to persons promoted on the basis of policy of reservation in the state since 1978 to ensure adequate representation of SCs and STs across all departments.
The report said overall efficiency of administration has not been affected by extending reservation in promotions to SC/STs.
It recommended continuation of reservation in promotion within the limits that will not hamper over-all efficiency of administration.